Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Sixteen years ago, in January 1994, I boarded a United Airlines flight for Sydney, Australia and a wonderful 12- day cruise which visited Melbourne and Hobart, Tasmania before crossing the Tasman Sea, and sailing through the fiords of New Zealand. After seeing spectacular Mitre Peak, we spent a day each in the New Zealand ports of Dunedin, Wellington and Christchurch before disembarking in Auckland where I spent two days before heading home to San Francisco.

In Christchurch, I visited Mona Vale Gardens, a spectacular showplace of beautiful plants and flowers. I saw the most amazing plant there, with gigantic leaves that towered over my friend and myself like a giant umbrella. I never got the name of it and, in a computer crash several years ago, I lost all pictures I had of this interesting plant.

This past week, I went out with my good friend, Joanne Olivieri ( aka Poetic Shutterbug ) to San Francisco's Botannical Gardens and, as we were walking back to the car after a morning of photography, there was the plant - actually, a whole row of the same plants - right in front of us.These specimens looked like something from outer space ( well, I've never traveled to that destination but it's what I imagine you might find on another planet ). I did get quite a few pictures of this gunnera tinctoria plant which was tagged as originating in Chile.

According to Wikipedia, there are 40 to 50 species of this plant, of varying leaf sizes. The plant is often called a "giant rhubarb" or "dinosaur" plant. They can be started from seeds, bulbs or plants and need consistently moist soil, rich in humus but well draining. They like sun but full sun can blister their leaves. They will need a large amount of growing space as the plants can grow to 12 feet wide!

The young leaf stalks of gunnera tinctoria ( they can grow to five feet long ) can be cooked as a vegetable or eaten raw. The roots are used to make a black dye.

20 comments:

Impressive photos, Carmen! And what a strange and powerful plant. I hope you'll visit my blog tomorrow, there will be some drawing there, not exactly related to the gift on the photo. You'll see. Have you got any post with a quotation in it?... Regards!

Kat_RN - I would imagine, with your antebellum property, you probably have plenty of land to plant a couple of these gunnera on. I'm glad I made it to Australia and New Zealand when I did ( in 1994 ) - I sure couldn't afford it since retirement!

About Me

My 71st birthday was Oct 3! I am the mother of three terrific sons - Jeremy is 31, Alex is 32, Shawn is almost 45. I am happily divorced. I lost my position of 21 years as a forensic nurse for the city and county of San Francisco in a massive wave of budget cuts ( Feb 2009 )...so I have retired ( which makes me sad! ). Forensic nursing has been the passion of my life and has introduced me to some outstanding people all over the world. I wish I were the curvy, slim creature of my youth - both of my youngest sons have been trying to help me get back to some semblance of that but it seems pretty remote...nonetheless, I am still enjoying life and will continue to do so until my last breath!!
Did my 88th cruise ( most of them have been in the last fifteen years ) - have been on ships all over the world - though I certainly enjoy travel by other means.
Since Dec 2011, I have spent nearly 2 years in India, a country I have grown to love and can afford on a retiree's income!

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I'm a recently retired forensic nurse, longing for a little company so do stop by! After nearly 50 years in nursing, I am trying to stay busy with writing, photography, travel, myriad interests and meeting folks like you!

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